HealthWise Wales

29 February 2016

Largest
ever Welsh health research project launched

The largest research project of
its kind, designed to better understand the health of people living in Wales,
is launched today.

Led by Cardiff University,
HealthWise Wales is a confidential research study, which aims to develop an
in-depth knowledge of the health of the nation - the information gained will be
used to help the NHS plan for the future.

The study hopes to recruit
260,000 people aged 16 and older over a five-year period. HealthWise Wales will
involve large numbers of people in Wales in health and social care research.

Personal and medical
information of those taking part will remain confidential and will only used
for research- it will not be shared with insurance companies or with
individual’s doctors.

A team of researchers at Cardiff University are leading the population research
study, working in partnership with Swansea University. A pilot was launched in
May 2015 and 570 people have signed up to date; feedback from the pilot phase
has influenced the development of the campaign to recruit 260,000 people.

Professor Shantini Paranjothy,
from Cardiff University’s School of Medicine, said:

“HealthWise Wales is a unique
opportunity that builds on a strong tradition of population health research in
Wales. This large-scale project will use modern technology to engage people in
research and provide opportunities to contribute to the design and conduct of
research studies.”

Dr Ruth Hussey, Wales’ Chief
Medical Officer said:

“Healthwise Wales is the largest
research project of its kind ever launched in Wales and it will help the NHS
plan for the future. We are taking a new approach with people working closely
with researchers as equal partners.

“If you’re over 16 and live in
Wales, you can help us better understand the health of the nation. Young or
old, fit or unwell you will be contacted every six months to get an ongoing
understanding of your health. This is about people sharing their knowledge to
improve health and care in Wales.

“We are calling on people to
register now for HealthWise Wales to inform the future by helping today.”

HealthWise Wales will engage
with members of the public by holding roadshow event across Wales to encourage
people to sign up to the research, alongside TV adverts and social media
activity.